Total Eclipse of the Country’s Heart

Written By Julia Matter

We are just weeks away from the Total Eclipse of the country’s heart. Ohio is one of only 13 states in the path of totality, (when the moon completely blocks the sun), and Cleveland has one of the longest durations of totality for U.S. cities in the path of nearly 4 minutes. The partial eclipse will begin in Cleveland at 1:59 pm. and totality begins at 3:13 pm.

The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806, only 10 years after Cleveland was founded and the year Cleaveland Moses died. The next time a total solar eclipse will pass over Ohio is in 2099 when the centerline will be near Columbus, but Cleveland won’t be in totality again for another few hundred years, in 2444.

The solar eclipse immediately follows Cleveland hosting the 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four (April 5 & 7), coincides with the Guardian’s home opener, and from April 3rd to the 13th we will be hosting the Cleveland International Film Festival.

To enjoy the eclipse there will be a variety of organized viewing events including Solarfest at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Total Eclipse Festival 2024 at the Great Lakes Science Center. The Great Lakes Science Center is expecting approximately 30,000 people on April 8th. Destination Cleveland estimates we will welcome about 200,000 day and overnight visitors to Cuyahoga County for the eclipse. Mall B and C are expected to draw large crowds as well with portable restrooms available for public use. NASA TV will be broadcasting from Cleveland, NASA Glenn Visitors Center is the only NASA center in Midwest. Events such as these promote Cleveland as a destination city and a leading city for science and aerospace.

Don’t forget to get your eclipse glasses, they can be purchased locally and online. The Great Lakes Science Center and NASA offer details on safe viewing alternatives, including viewing devices that can be easily constructed at home.

If you plan on driving, visit our Parking and Transit Page  for resources surrounding parking in Downtown Cleveland. We also encourage you to take RTA public transportation for easy and accessible travel Downtown. Extra rail service will be in place to handle the surge of customers. The Waterfront Line will run daytime service April 6th through the 8th. Passes are readily available for using the Transit App with EZfare or at a Ticket Vending Machine.

Safety 

  • Cleveland Division of Police will be fully staffed on April 8th to ensure a safe and smooth event day. 

  • Both the City and County emergency operations centers (EOC) will be open and staffed. 

  • CMSD and other school districts will be closed to eliminate some traffic concerns.  

  • City buildings will be closed. 

  • Downtown’s parent/child reunification center will be at Downtown Cleveland, Inc.’s Terminal Tower co-deployment center. 

  • Almost complete darkness is anticipated during the 4-minute window of totality; be careful during this period when traveling! 

Personal Preparedness 

Plan ahead! In preparation for possible long delays, public safety entities urge visitors to: 

  • Have a full tank of gas before traveling 

  • Ensure your child’s safety by providing them with contact numbers 

  • Keep cell phones charged and use Wi-Fi when possible

  • Have essential items on-hand including cell phone chargers, medication, etc. 

  • Create an emergency supply kit 

 Road Closures, Traffic, and Transportation 

The above map details anticipated road closures and no parking/stopping zones. They include: 

  • Closures: 

  • Route 2 Westbound ramps will be closed at I-90 starting around 1pm 

  • Alfred Lerner Way/Erieside will be closed from W 3rd to E 9th. Access to the Great Lakes Science Center garage will be maintained from W 3rd St. 

  • E 9th North of Erieside will be closed 

  • No Parking/No Stopping Zones: 

  • Superior Ave./Detroit Ave. from East 30th St. to Lakewood border  

  • St. Clair and Lakeside from W 9th to E 9th. 

  • W 3rd, W 6th, and W 9th North from Superior. 

  • Huron and Prospect west of E 9th to Ontario 

  • Parking bans will begin at 9am and go until 9pm 

  • No Parking signs will be down all streets affected by the ban 

  • Tow details will be in place so make sure you are not parking in a ban zone!  

  • Law enforcement will be stationed down Superior Ave., Detroit Ave., and East 9th to ensure presence on all major thoroughfares 

Ambassadors will be out providing directions, cleaning debris, and maintaining the crowds all day long. They work every day to keep our city center clean, safe, and welcoming, especially on days when our core welcomes hundreds of thousands of extra visitors for Downtown’s eclipse festivities. Ambassadors can provide roadside assistance including tire changes, car lockouts, and dead batteries funded by the Downtown Cleveland Improvement Corporation and free of charge to residents, workers, and visitors! Their services can be accessed at (216) 621-6000, and you can learn more about what they do here.

Spend the day Downtown, come early, stay late, and enjoy everything that Downtown Cleveland has to offer. The Rock Hall and Great Lakes Science Center will host family-friendly programming filled with live music, trivia contests, food trucks, and more! Check out the hundreds of local restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bars, boutiques, and shops across Downtown. Enjoy coffee or lunch before the magic of the eclipse and browse around the small businesses in the 5th Street Arcades, Tower City, and more. Stick around for a happy hour before the Guardians Home Opener and keep the fun going at our premier dining establishments. It’s a day we are not likely to forget, so enjoy it in Downtown Cleveland!                         

Julia Matter
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